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Published: February 18th 2011
We had a great back-to-basics start to our trip, spending 3 nights in the Snowy Mountains, cooking on an open fire and going on various walks.
Driving on almost-deserted roads, we caught the chairlift up from Thredbo and walked to Mount Kosciuszko along the steel mesh pathway across the bog.
We were prepared for the weathered mountains and low vegetation, but not having been here in summer before, we didn't expect to see so much water oozing out of the hills and running away. It is a fascinating landscape.
We carried all the essentials - water, sunscreen, insect repellant (unfortunately no beer though) - but unfortunately left our commonsense behind, so we managed to get quite sunburnt anyway. Luckily the following day was overcast and drizzling a bit, so while it curtailed our walking a bit it was good for the skin.
On our second day in the Snowy we drove up to Charlotte Pass and walked down to the Snowy River crossing but the weather was a bit dodgy so we gave it up and did a short walk back near Perisher instead. The valley views from Charlotte Pass are quite scenic.
There are a
lot of very tame kangaroos where we are staying – as soon as you step outside they will come around looking for a snack.
Setting off for Melbourne, we drove past Thredbo and down the Alpine Way to Khankoban. The weather was wet, the road steep and narrow. About ten minutes from Khankoban we were stopped by a landslide. We had a great view of the road crew cutting a path through it and weren’t held up for long.
The Spirit of Tasmania was late arriving in Melbourne, and it took us about 2 hours from driving on to the wharf to unlocking our cabin door. The crossing was a bit rough but we both managed to keep our insides in order, even if we didn’t really sleep all that well.
Arriving in Devonport, which is quite a pleasant place and fascinating with the Mersey River dominated quite innocuously by the Bass Strait Ferry, we had a quick breakfast then drove west along the coast to Ulverstone and Penguin. The weather was quite cold.
A quick detour to Preston Falls and the Leven Canyon was well worthwhile. The canyon especially was spectacular and well worth the
697 lung-bursting steps to do the walk through the fern forest and out to the lookout.
By the time we arrived in Stanley the weather was deteriorating – quite cold and windy. It was not surprising that there was a gale warning in place, and we spent the night in a shaking cabin listening to the rain pelt down.
In fact we have also spent the entire following day doing the same thing. Welcome to Tasmania.
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Andrews & Joyce
non-member comment
Hope weather has improved
Hi to you both. Great to read the update & see the photographs. Mum even came down stairs to do so, Sharon you will be pleased to know. Keep the umbrella up & have fun - watch out for tassie devils of any kind. Mum is doing well & really enjoyed reading and seeing blog content. We may convince her to get a computer yet. Luv us